Cannon



Aug. 15, 1933. 1 1 DRlGGS. JR

CANNON ATTORNEY CANNON Filed OCL. 24. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR UU/S L. RGGS JR.

BY MJQLM ATTORNEY fio@ 50f"-`Figure 6 is Y Y Y K inginsection the trunnion support, the founda-` tion YsupportY and lockingw'mecha-nism between Patented Aug. 155, Y1933 N UNITenSTATES y Y Y Louis L. Briggs, Jr., Tippecanoe City, Ohio I A r4Apin-l'icauon omkeren' 1931,. sriarn.- 57u81!) 'Y 'j Claims;

My inventionrelates toV cannons. -1

l i It isthe object of` my' invention r13o-'provide 'ai Vbreech-loading type of cannon adapted for use "with xed ammunition, Ythatis light and simply {constructed butfeasily capable of absorbing the` I shock of recoil and VVof transmitting such shock;`

or asfrnuchof itA as maybe left after` absorption, to the foundation upon whicli'the cannon-rests;

It is a particular objectfof myinventionfto.Y

`provide rneansrofA mounting the barrel ofthe cannon audits recoil mechanism iii-such' 'a manner as'to readily absorb the-recoil, to guide the gun barrel during recoil and return'toibatteryand to transmit thev shoclf:` therefromleft'over after recoil has-been absorbed/partially to-the foundation upon which thecannonis mounted, and Ato permit vof the ,adjustment for elevation or for traversing of the gun without-*impeding the enjoyment of the abovementioned advantages.y

capable` of handling lrelatively largeV ammuni- `tion,;which gunyat the same time, isv so light in i Y construction'that it maybe easily handledf- In particular, it is my object-Yto-provide a uni- 25 tary mounting'gfor the recoil mechanism and for Y guiding-the gunduring recoil and-'return 'to b attery. Y A Y Y It isa further object to provide:for the mounting ofthe recoil mechanism `which can-be; readily assembled, disassembled, 'adjusted Yandrepaired without disturbingfthe mounting or the g'un'itself, and tor-provide for .themounting Yof a gun ,which maybe adjustedgor modifiedwithout disturbing the recoil mechanism, while, at the? same g time, providing arunitary structure-for vsupport- `i`ng"both the -gun and the recoil mechanis'mrin requisite parallel relationship.y v

Referringto the drawings: j 'Figure'l is a side elevation of thejgun; v Figure 2 is a similar View showing the gun and recoilmechanisnrin longitudinal section?,

Figurev 3 is anV isometric perspectiveVv ironyn the breech end ofthe gun looking at itfrom the leftV hand sidewith the breech block openg vFigure l is a rear Velevation thereof; l `.'Eigure 5 `a Vdetailfifside elevation Yof the trunnion support forthegun and recoil mechanism cradle which carries the` gun sleeve fand the 're'- coilsleeve; f f

airone elevation of the-gunlshowthegun cradleA supportedy on fthertrunnion and the 'foundation'supporjg i -U' Figure 7 is a sectionon thelinefI- looking yin YIt is an object to provide astrong durable gun "inf the Vfoundation supporti# 1 the direction of the-arrowsslowing the jarrange ment of ports in therrecoil mechanism piston.` f Referring -to the. drawings -in` detail, 11 generally designates .thef `foundation"support which, comprises alv unitary U-shaped casting havingupwardly extending side arms 2 terminating trrunnion bearing surfaces 3 forreceving the trunnionV bearing sleeveV 4, whichis clamped to itrbyV the'trunnion clamp i 5fby` theV bolts 6.; `These side arms 2 are connected together by' transverse 65 members 7 and 8 which are provided with'a rVer-V y Y tical sleeve 9.*for`receiving a foundation pin 10,

which may be, vas fin thecase of marine work, a part oi'4 .the towinggpostgof Va boat, forming :a part of the foundation and on which the cannon rotates as itis traversed.; 11- designates generally Vforthe f adjustment of the `cannon in, its proper elevatiom i l,In order-to hold the cannonfin its. adjusted position, one of the cradle trunnion sleeves :l2

Vprovided with adepending flangell engaged S5 on onelzside by an "abutmentrlarvetede to'the 'plate 8 of the foundation supportandengaged oni-the other-rsidelby -a clamp screw-i6 adjusted A I kby l-.he'handle` 17, which screwl is threaded *atj18 ."Therlcradlefll .is providedrwith-a barrel-receiving sleeve 19 and withangfupperereV coil receivin'gpsleeve 2,0.VV ,Y

l The lowergunbearingsleeve'earriesfthe-guidfing sleeve 21 which Ais l restrictedatits forward 95` end .atf22 and-is provided withfanannularfbearf Aing andsealing sleeve or ring'23;engaging,thebar-` rel Zeef-the cannon.Y ThiSsIeeveqzvjermsa guideat the forward endofr-thefslee'vegl for the Arecoil of thevcannon andritsrreturntobattery. Y V100 rear sleeve or sealing ring 25 `forms aY-bearing inthe'sleeve 21 for thebreech endof` the. gun' and acts as'a .limiting stop `against theshoulder j 26 on thecannon to the vextentltoV whchfthe ycannon ,will return .toV battery,and is provided 'with l a; spline 2'7 j operating in' the' groove '28 g of i the "cannon for guiding the `Vcannon, in its'reciprof catory 'motion duringjrecoil 'and return tojfbat-g tery. The barrel-124 has mounted on '.thesbreech Vend"'alzreech-'block guide casing 29'that' carries 110 ere-werev al transversely Yreciprocatingv breech block guided -by the grooves 31 and 32 and actuated by the r`bell crank 33 andY handle 34. One end of the bell crank 33 has a Vcam pin 35 operating inv of importance in connection with the present vention. `They are more fully set forth and' claimed in my copending application, Serial'Nol 515,102, filed February 11, 193,17. j

heavy sleeve 20 formed as a part of the cradle castingwhich takes the shock of recoil as theV` recoil' cylinder 142ahasagshoulder 43 engaging f with-,the forwardshoulder 4470i the cradlesleeve 20. The rearfendfof AthissleeveV as atx45 is threaded into4 the;rear end of the cradle `sleeve 20 against-the shoulder which engages thelocking nut46 andthi's locking nut 46 in qturnengages the locking-nut4'?.v Thevrear end of `the sleeve .42l hassthreadedV thereon a packing member 48 with-an internally-extending sleeve or cylinder 49cm Which-is mounted the helical spring 50 that acts asairecoilspring VThis sleeve 49vacts vas a f cylinder 'through which liquid lcan be ejected through the side ports 51.

such'cylinder. Y

v`The forwardend ofthe rod 41 is provided with a slottedgpiston 53having by-pass ports 54 and 55.4 vThe by-pass ports-54 aremerely ports or oriiic'eswhichare never covered by the valve memberV 56 'hereinafterdescribed; These small portscontrolrthe movement .forreturn to batvteryv vThespring-loaded valvek 56 loaded by. the spring5'7gv is` used' to control-.the orice 55 in the head ofthe `piston 53. A`'This valvecan be lifted by the pressurefon the left hand sideA of the pislton 53when thai-.pressure is vsuftlcient to: compressthe` spring 57 one end,y of which'. abuts against `the supplementary piston and abutment 58 -threaded upon the threadedl endr59 of the rod341'5 .The p istonworksinthe supplementary restricted".cylinder-62:and acts as YaY shock absorber." l. Y t I" YIn:'operiaticrnl'the fluid introduced into-the cylinder through the 'port 60 closed Aby the plug `671 53,;ianl is Vresl'iricte'dgink its outlet throughthe Aports y54'Y an'dl55 fDuring this Ymovement of recoil the spring is compressedoready for Ireturn 'bythe spring? of the'cannon'barrel 24 to battery.v

` This-recoilmovement `is dampened'at its end by isf-connedand slowly escapes through the li''orts, 1515'which`f act y as bleederY ports; This' A, piston and' cylinder construction restrain pos-r 6-'5 f sible'o'-lover-travel kand prevent'sfmetalv to metal contact theevent of such over-travel; 'Eith'erl VIt will be understoodthatythe reduced within the cylinder 42a in the port 6o Turning to the recoil mechanism and its-mount;- V- ing,it will be notedA that I have provided a veryv t Y tersPatent, is:Y

Onthe rod 41 is mounted a piston 52,.adapted to :be received in i is compressed on vtheilefthand of the cylinder' fthe-piston'-52wentering-the cylinder 49 where is preferably oil or a mixture of glycerin and Y water.

A threaded cover sleeve or supplementaryrestricted cylinder 62 is provided on the forward end of the cylinder 42 and a packing 63 around 80 the rod 41 at the rear end of the cylinder 42a.

When it is desired to adjust or replace this mechanism, all that it-is necessary to do isto detach the rod 41 from the'ear 39,'-remove the nuts 46 and 47 and closure 48 thereby sliding the rel, ,coil'cylinder 42a out of the cradle sleeve 20. A I t Willv be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary -to adapt it to varying con ditions and usesn' Y,

Having thusl fully described my invention, what I claim' as new and desire to secure by Let- 11 Inl combination, a cradle having an upper and lower sleeve, aguide sleeve-,mounted inthe lower cradle sleeve, a cannon barrel, reciprocal therein, and a bearingVV sleeve at each end of the guide sleeve for vengaging the barrel.

VV2. vIn combination, Ya cradle having van upper T;

vand lower sleeve, a guide sleeve having v a bearing sleeve at each end mounted-in the lower cradle sleeve,y a cannon barrel r'reciprocal in the'guide sleeve and supported by the bearing sleeves, a

recoil cylinder ,mounted in the upper cradle-sleeve, f

and means supported independent of the upper sleeve to Apreventmovement of said recoilrcylinder in said .upper sleeve.

3.Y In combination, a cradlehaving Van upper and lower sleeve,ra guide` sleeve having a bearf ing sleeve at Veach end mounted in the lower cradle sleeve, afcannon barrel reciprocal in the `guide sleeve and supported by the bearing sleeves, a recoil cylinder mounted inthe upper cradle sleeve, means supported independent of the upper sleeve to prevent-movement of said recoil cylinder in said upper sleeve, recoil mechanism inthe recoil cylinder extending out of said cylinder', and means vconnecting said recoil mechanism to said cannon barrel. A Y :s y 4. combination, in a cannon having a barrel and a recoil cylinder, a cradle having a relatively short barrel supporting sleeve in which the barrel reciprocates, a relativelyl long recoil cylinder sleeve in which arec'oilcylinder ,is held rigidly against movemenuavrelatively long ,barrel sup- 12,5V

porting sleeve in the.. rst lmentioned sleeve of the cradle rigidly mounted therein, and a cannonbarrel adapted to reciprocate therein.

5. In combination, in a cannon, a cradle hav.- s ing `a barrel supporting sleeve and a superimposed isi) recoil cylinder supporting sleeve, a guidesleeve `for` said` barrel rigidly mounted in, the cannon supporting-sleeve. ofthe cradle, bearing sleeves on said guide. sleeve :for slidably engagingVv af) cannon barrel toformwith thebarrel a chamber.

6,In combination, in a cannon, av cradle havg ing a barrel supporting sleeve and a superimposed yrecoil cylinder supporting sleeve, a guide sleeve for said barrel rigidly mountednin-the cannon supporting, sleeve ofi-the cradle,- a .bearing sleeve on each end of said `guide sleeve forfslidabl'y engaging abarrel to form with the barrela chamber,

and means of preventing the rotation of the barrel during Ireciprocation,within the supporting i. ,Y sleeve. Y, i i l-iii V7. In combination, a cannon, av cradleY hav- Y.ing afbarrel 'supporting' sleeve and Ya superimposed recoil cylinder supporting sleeve, aV guidel sleevefor said barrel ,I rigidly".l .mounted lin:y the i" Vcannon supporting sleeveof the cradle, a bearing sleeve on each end of'said guide sleeve for slidably engaging a barrel to form with the barrel a chamber, means of preventing the rotation during reciprocation of the barrel within the supporting sleeve, a recoil cylinder mounted in the recoil supporting cylinder sleeve, means supported independent of the recoil cylinder sleeve to prevent longitudinal movement of. Vsaid recoil cylinder, recoil mechanism therein, and means connected with said mechanism connected to the barrel for travel together.

8. In combination, a support, a relatively heavy cradle having supporting sleeve for a cannon barrel and recoil mechanism, a relatively thin guide sleeve carried in said cradle forsupporting a cannon at widely spaced points exceeding the width of the cradle sleeve to support the cannon, and a vrecoil cylinder of relatively light material mounted in a lrelatively heavy sleeve of the cradle, and vmeans interconnecting the recoil mechanism 'in the cylinder with the cannon barrel. l v i 9. In combination', a cradle having a cannon supporting sleeve, and a recoil cylinder sleeve, a cannon guiding sleeve mounted in the first mentioned sleeve having a restricted throat. at the forward end, cannon engaging sealing rings at either end, and means in one of said rings engaging in the cannon to prevent its rotation.

10. In a recoil mechanism, a recoil cylinder, a M piston rod and a piston having an outer seriesV and an inner series of ports, aspring-loaded Valve adapted to cover one series of ports on one side of the piston and a recoil spring on the other side of the piston, a supplementary cylinder in said recoil cylinder having ports and a supplementary piston on said piston rod adapted to kenter therein to cushion the movement of theA piston vrodV at the extreme limit of its stroke in one direction. Y

GOA

l1. In a recoil mechanism, a gun barrel, a main recoil cylinder Vstationarily held with .respect to said barrel, a recoil piston rod operating in the recoil cylinder and having one end connected to said gun barrel to move with it, an intermediate auxiliary piston on said piston rod, a, rearwardly disposed restricted cylinder having relief ports for receiving said piston and piston rod at the rear end of the recoil cylinder, a main piston on theforward end of said piston rod and a recoil spring interposed between the rear side of the main piston and the forward side of the rear end of the recoil cylinder.

12. In a recoil mechanism, a gun barrel, a main recoil cylinderfstationarily held with respect to said barrel, a recoil piston rod operating in the recoil cylinder and having one end connected to v said gun barrel to move with it, an intermediate auxiliary piston on said piston rod, a rearwardly disposed restricted' cylinder having relief ports for receiving said piston and piston rod at the rear end of the recoil cylinder, a main piston on the forward end of said piston rod and a recoil spring interposed between the rear side of the main piston and the forward' siderof the rear end of the recoil cylinder,V a supplementary restricted cylinder formed in the forward end of the recoil casing, a supplementary piston mounted on theY 13. n a recoil mechanism, a gun barrel, a main recoil cylinder stationarily held with respect to said barrel, a recoil piston rod operating in the recoil cylinder and having. one end connected to said gunbarrel to move with it, an intermediate auxiliary piston on said piston rod, a rearwardly disposed restricted cylinder having relief ports for receiving said piston. and piston rod at the rear end of the recoil cylinder, a main piston on the forward end of said piston rod and a recoil spring interposed between the rear side of the main piston andthe forward side of the rear end of the recoil cylinder, a supplementary restricted cylin- V der formed in the forward end of the recoil cas- 1 ing, a supplementary piston mounted on the forward end of the recoil piston rod for snuiiing the -nal return-of the barrel to'battery, and a yieldgun barrel, an intermediate auxiliary piston onVV the center of said piston rod, a main piston adjacent the forward end of the said pistonrod and a f supplementary piston near the forward end of Ysaid piston rod, a restricted head for said recoil casing to form a supplementary cylinder for the last mentioned piston on the forward end of the piston rod and a second supplementary cylinder of restricted area at the rear end of the recoil casing having ports, said last mentioned cylinder being adapted to receive the intermediate piston on the piston rod, and a yielding means between the rear end of the recoil casing and the main piston. Y

15. In a recoil mechanism, a pair of spaced l ton adjacent the forward end of the said piston rod and a supplementary piston near the forward end of said piston rod, a restricted head for said recoil casing to form a supplementary cylinder for the last mentioned piston on the forward end of the piston rod and a second supplementary cylinder of restrictedarea at the rear end of the recoil casing having ports, said last mentioned cylinder being adapted to receive the intermediate piston on the piston rod, a yielding means between the rear end of the `recoil casing and the main piston, said main piston having ports therethrough, and ineans'for yieldingly covering a portion of said ports located between the forward supplementary piston and the forward side of the main piston.l Y Y LOUIS L. DRIGGS, JR.

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